Walker named SIUE Interim Vice Chancellor for Administration

EDWARDSVILLE — Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Interim Chancellor Stephen Hansen has appointed Rich Walker as interim vice chancellor for administration. The appointment is contingent upon SIU Board of Trustees approval.

Walker steps into the role as Vice Chancellor for Administration (VCA) Kenn Neher has announced his intention to retire at the end of May 2016. Walker currently serves as the assistant vice chancellor for administration for planning and budgeting, a position to which he was appointed in 2001.

“Rich will serve as interim vice chancellor through the 2016-17 academic year and until the new chancellor concludes a successful search for a permanent replacement,” Hansen said. “Rich has worked at SIUE since 1986 and is an active member of the Edwardsville community. He will provide critical leadership for the University during this important time of transition.”

Within his current responsibilities, Walker provides leadership to the SIUE community and to the VCA directors in matters related to long-range facility planning and budget development. He has been responsible for the development of the University’s annual capital RAMP budget and the development, submission and implementation of the VCA functional area budget.

“My wife, Missy, and I came to SIUE expecting to stay five years and move on … that was 30 years ago,” Walker said. “I enjoy our University atmosphere and have developed an excellent rapport with colleagues and friends throughout the campus, the SIU system and the community. I look forward to continuing to work with many talented people to provide the best services and facilities to support our students, faculty and staff.”

Among his many responsibilities during his career, Walker served as the coordinator of the Arts & Issues Series. A variety of additional roles included serving on the Alumni Association Jazz East Festival advisory committee; campus programming council; Olympic Festival public affairs committee; housing strike force; distance learning facilities evaluation team; peace and justice committee; and logistics section chief for the National Incident Management System at SIUE.

Walker has served in many leadership roles in academic and professional organizations, including the SIUE Chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Leadership St. Louis and the Scott Air Force Base Military Affairs Committee for Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois. In addition, he was recognized with the Carol Kimmel Community Service Award for Faculty and Staff in 2005.

In the Edwardsville community, Walker served on the City Council for 16 years and was chair of the finance committee, public services committee, the administrative services committee, task force on technology, Wildey Theatre development committee and represented SIUE on the City’s public safety facilities planning committee.

Walker earned a master’s from SIUE and a bachelor’s from Indiana State University.